Fram Ultra filter material failure

[PoorMans180SX]

Pulled my Fram ultra filter from my 2005 Mazda 6 2.3 liter today. The filter material has completely detached from the plastic frame. This is 8000ish miles running Mobil 1 0w40 with some Castol 0w20 top off. Not cool Fram. I did add Mos2 about 3000 miles in because I was curious about how it would affect the sound of the engine mostly.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Pulled my Fram ultra filter from my 2005 Mazda 6 2.3 liter today. The filter material has completely detached from the plastic frame. This is 8000ish miles running Mobil 1 0w40 with some Castol 0w20 top off. Not cool Fram. I did add Mos2 about 3000 miles in because I was curious about how it would affect the sound of the engine mostly.

View attachment 85301

Well, well, well. It looks like we have what "SOME CALL" a MC-FL820S here. Wait, the end separated? IMHO, this is worse than a FL820S.

 

[MrQuackers]

Some bean counter is going to the woodshed

 

[dlundblad]

Their cartridge filters have been doing this for a while. No surprise sadly.

Find a different brand.

 

[Kjmack]

So how did that moly work for you ?

 

[RooflessVW]

It shouldn't have done that, but IMO with the center cage design of the cap and the compression that the filter is under while installed, it wasn't bypassing any oil.

The filter may have even come apart during removal and not before.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Sad. "Made In" means pretty much nothing these days when it comes to the quality of just about anything.

About 50 years ago , anything you laid hands on with "Made In America" was of a quality you could see and feel
was second to none. Today?

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

It shouldn't have done that, but IMO with the center cage design of the cap and the compression that the filter is under while installed, it wasn't bypassing any oil.

The filter may have even come apart during removal and not before.

Good point yet isn't that pathetic that such an important support part is so cheaply made it can fall apart even if it did during removal which is a good possibility. Even if some one way over tightened it upon installation or used one of those thick "honey like" so called engine oil improvers or mashed down (we do not see indication of it) and damaged it when removing.... it should not simply fall apart. I guess many of us have been lucky as I have never had a filter come apart like that.

 

[RooflessVW]

Good point yet isn't that pathetic that such an important support part is so cheaply made it can fall apart even if it did during removal which is a good possibility. Even if some one way over tightened it upon installation or used one of those thick "honey like" so called engine oil improvers or mashed down (we do not see indication of it) and damaged it when removing.... it should not simply fall apart. I guess many of us have been lucky as I have never had a filter come apart like that.

Some filter designs just aren't great.

I try not to get so bent out of shape about things.

 

[Mainia]

I sure hope you will send it to them.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Is there even a center cage in the cavity thar the filter goes in to support the media when oil is flowing? Looking at how far the pleats are pushed towards the center, it seems like there was no center tube in the setup to give the pleats any added support. Or is the OP squeezing hard on the pleats in the photo ?

 

[MParr]

OE, Motorcraft, Mann, or WIX/NAPA Gold = problem solved.

 

[RooflessVW]

Is there even a center cage in the cavity thar the filter goes in to support the media when oil is flowing? Looking at how far the pleats are pushed towards the center, it seems like there was no center tube in the setup to give the pleats any added support. Or is the OP squeezing hard on the pleats in the photo ?

The cage is integrated into the cap.

 

[Blagoje]

OE, Motorcraft, Mann, or WIX/NAPA Gold = problem solved.

+1

I have gotten good to great results using Mahle and K&N cartridge filters as well. For example:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/k-n-ps-7004-cartridge-oil-filter-10-000-miles.328314/

 

[Zee09]

Is there even a center cage in the cavity thar the filter goes in to support the media when oil is flowing? Looking at how far the pleats are pushed towards the center, it seems like there was no center tube in the setup to give the pleats any added support. Or is the OP squeezing hard on the pleats in the photo ?

Yeah looks like he is pressing to show separation otherwise we couldn't see it. But Fram was never stellar with these types of filters. As you already know but Fram is blowing it lately.

 

[Sayjac]

As noted above, over the years this phenomenon (separation of media from endcaps) with Ultra cartridges seen before this subforum multiple times. BMW cartridges have been particularly prone.

I'm not going to speculate in this case whether it happened before, during or after removal. I will say, I don't believe all the anecdotes posted happened during or after removal. Fit/sizing of cartridge may be an issue. And I sometimes wonder if the media metal backing attached to the nylon type endcaps also a factor.

 

[jeepman3071]

UCOD? Ultra Cartridge of Death?

 

[kschachn]

Report that to the manufacturer and let us know what they say in return.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Some filter designs just aren't great.

I try not to get so bent out of shape about things.

think u hit the nail on the head....

What bent me out of shape long ago is that it is possible to find horrible and at the very same time great reviews on almost every product people take the time to write reviews about.
Going to look up and read any online product reviews is just about pointless as flipping a coin before deciding on products or brands. Ok. Happy shopping to all unless your store aisles are empty.

 

[blufeb95]

I've seen this happen before on Toyota Cartridges, I think the problem was that the cartridges are slightly too tall and get crushed.